The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-02
A DRAWN G. AME.

MAY afternoon, III the private room of his
office in Exchange court, in the city of
Liverpool The sunlight slanted across a
sleek brown head and made the splendid
diamond which adorned the little finger of
his left hand sparkle. Mr.. Johnson's was
an aristocratic hand, slender and white, for
the possession of which he was indebted to
some remote ancestor whose name was not
johnson. Gentleman" was stamped upon
every feature of his calm, clean-shaved ex-
pressionless face. aBut 'scoundrel," by some
unaccountable omission on the part of ma
tue, was not written there. His features,
though wel[shaped, were small
After a time he desisted from his occupa-
ton of absently covering the blotting-pad
before him with the ink dots, and rising
abruptly, took up his position on the hearth
rug with his back to the fireplace.
He was tall man, slimly built, with
well-poised head and square shoulders; and
as the light fell more strongly upon his face,
it was noticeable that his eyes-which were
blue and very closely set together-were
clear and guileless as little child's He
found those eyes very useful upon occasions;
useful beyond the ordinary use of eyes.
They were eyes that could look straight into
yours while their owner was concocting or
relating statements or incidents which
might be wholly false. They had had
good deal of practice. He was 30 years old,
and during all his life he had never yet told
the truth when lie would do as we'll
The glib falsehood flowed from his tongue
with a smoothnesS and air of truth which
would have deceived, and did deceive, the
most wary and suspicious of the fascinating
Johnsons friends and associates.
In the eyes of the commercial world Mr..
johnson was a rich man. In the eyes of
his confidential clerk and himself his firm
was on the brink of ruin. Nothing short of
miracle could save it, and Edgar knew
that the days of miracles were past.
He was evidently thinking deeply as he
stood there on this May afternoon. His
forehead was contracted, his thin, well-cut
lips pressed closely together. Suddenly an
Undesirable agitation passed over his fea
lures, accompanied by culver slight and
fleeting as the trembling of a calm lake
stirred by some passing breeze. He adj
vanced quickly toward the table and
touched a small bell which stood thereon.
A clerk entered the room.
Saunders, a hanson
eyes, sir" and the door closed again.
Mr.. johnson got into his light overcoat,
drew on his gloves in the calm gentlemanly
his hat and stick went down stairs, and
leisurely entered the hanson, which he di-
rected to a certain house in James street
The most prosperous firms sometimes
carry on their business in the dingiest of
offices, and the firm of Levi, Dorrell &
Co, brokers and shipowners, bore this out
faithfully. 1t was very prosperous firm,
and had during the past year made some
very lucky speculatiOns.
Iobpco11 having instructed tho nOo oh
man to wait, threaded the tortuous maze of
passages which led to the sanctuary where
Levi & Co. transacted their mighty bust
ness and made their piles of gold. He
handed his card to the sunny looking clerk,
and, after a minutes delay, was shown into
the room where, in attitudes of conscious
wealth and power, sat the senior partner,
Mr.. Levi, and his colleague, Mr.. Dorreil.
Mr.. Levi was short, stout, dark, with the
features of his race, and an eye which in a
horse would have been called wicked. Mr.
Dorrell was also dark, but tall and thin,
well-shaped and gentlemanly. The third
occupant of the room, seated at a distant
desk in a corner, a Mr.. Skimp-presumably
the Co" He was, however, a mere echo of
the senior partners, and never appeared to
take any active part in the business of the
firm. He did not even look up as Mr.
Johnson entered, but went on writing with
a very audible quill pen
Mr.. Levi and Mr. Dorrell were rather i'm
pressed by the manner and bearing of their
visitor, who had an air of deferential aud
dignified courtesy which told in his favor at
ouce. The partners were surprised to learn
that he was only a cotton broker, After a
few preliminary remarks-in which, as his
name, calling and place of business were
chiefly concerned, Mr. johnson did not find
it necessary to employ his inventive talent
he proceeded to enter into the particulars of
his projected business with Levi q Co.
II understand" Mr.. Levi, he said, with
his clear blue eyes fixed upon the ''glittering
monocule" which added lustre and efficacy
~ Mr.. Lewis left eye, ''that you grant adj
vances upon cargoeS in transit, if shipped i'll
your vessels. l Think" he continued depre-
cratingly, II need not mention the position
my firm holds in the mercantile world but,
like many others in these times, my capital
is locked up to degree which'prevents my
extending my business as l should like"
Quite so, y assented Mr. DoI1'ell, blandly.
Quite So" said a faint echo-like voice
from the corner desk.
Mr.. Levi bowed slightly, and indicated
wish that Mr.. johnson should proceed. Mr..
johnson crossed one leg lightly over the
other and went on:
II have been in the habit of shipping cot
ton from Alexandria by the vessels of
Jones a. Co. but if you, gentlemen, can see
your way to make me the necessary au-
vances on cargoes, | propose transferring
my business to your firm. AT present l
have 1000 bales of cotton ready to ship here
from Alexandria, for which | want an adj
vance of 100000 This only, of course on
your receipt of the usual bills of lading from
Alexandria; and,n with a courtly bow,
should You desire to make any inquiries
regarding the standing of my firm, etc, [
trust that you will find all things satisfac-
tory
1--WE know your firm well by reputation,
Mr.. johnson" said Mr.. Levi, Though we
have not had the pleasure of knowing you
personally until to-day"
Then, said Mr.. Dorrell, latter due in
quiries-which in your case, Mr.. johnson,
are matter of form-we shall be pleased
TO make you the required advance on receipt
of the formal bills of lading from onr agents
in Alexandria.
Mr.. Johnson bowed gracefully and took
his departure
That night Mr.. johnson had important
business, which detained him in his private
Office until the small hours of the morning.
lie was writing, not in his usual rapid and
continuous style, but laboriously and halt
ingly. Had you stood behind his chair for
second, you would have seen that he was
carefully copying a signature, which read
thus: abdul Pinero," Hespared no pains
with his work, and it was long after mid
night when he leaned back in his chair and
lnDSectpd the result of his labOfg with keen